Fish Handling and Fish Release Code of Practice
http://www.riverandreef.com/articlelive/articles/162/1/Fish-Handling-and-Fish-Release-Code-of-Practice/Page1.html
Randall Bryett
Randall Bryett is a keen fisherman whom has tackled everything from bass to marlin on all types of tackle. His passion is saltwater flyfishing and he focuses on living the fishermans dream. When not traveling Randall who is Australian, resides in Northern California with his wife Kate and their two adopted cats.By Randall Bryett
Published on 02/28/2008
Nomad Sportsfishing whom you will see featured in the banner directly above or just click nomadsportfishing.com.au have just released a new Code of Practice for their operation. It includes many great tips for handling fish for catch and release. The whole list is included in this article by clicking Full Story. Below are some hints I penned some time ago for Capt Greg Bowdish view it online here. anglers-outlet.com/catch_and_release.htm
- Use a purpose made net or landing device.
- If no net use wet hands or better still wet gloves that will protect fishes slime from human skin oils.
- Support the fishes spine, belly and head. DO NOT HOLD IT VERTICAL.
- Be prepared if you are taking photos. Do not keep the fish out of water for longer than 10 seconds. You can take at least two photos in that time!
- Be realistic some fish will just die when they are be caught and that is a basic fact of fishing. It is not a round of golf, it is hooking and playing a live creature. Think about that and if it does not sit right with you, play golf!
- The above point made. Use appropriate tackle for the fish targeted. Extended fight periods will increase chance of mortality.
- Do not release fish that are bleeding heavily and or in "shivering" state. Treat all fish for keeping with respect by dispatching quickly before icing down for consumption.
- Do not "throw" fish back over the side! Spear tuna species back into the water head first to get a rush of water through gills.
- Do not break spines of stingrays, rockfish and dogfish. Do not break beaks off Needle fish, billfish or shovel nose sharks. Treat all species the same. Vermin species are not disposable because you do not want to catch them.
- Above all use common sense when C&R fishing. Obviously the best method is not to remove the fish from the water at all.
- Do not remove hooks deeply embedded in fishes gills, or stomach. The fish has a better chance of surviving rather than undergoing surgery to remove a hook
Fish Handling and Fish Release Code of Practice
Particular attention must be paid to these guidelines by ALL guides, skippers, fishing crew and guests.
Compliance with these guidelines is mandatory for attending any trip, and this code of conduct will be strictly
enforced with no exceptions.
• All fish are to be handled in a way which does not damage them.
• No fish is ever to be removed from the water tail first, or held up by it’s tail, as this is likely to break the
fish’s back. All fish should be held up with a hand on the tail, and another hand supporting under the belly
or gill plates of the fish. Hands are NEVER to be placed inside the fish’s gills for photographs.
• Barbless single hooks are to be used at ALL times. Under no circumstances is anyone permitted to use
trebles of any kind for any fishing conducted with Nomad Sportfishing in any location.
• Wet gloves or wet shirts are to be worn by any guest holding a fish, and wet gloves are the only
acceptable way in which a guide or guest should ever hold a fish.
• Fish should never come in contact with a dry shirt. If a fish is likely to come into contact with a dry shirt
while being held for a picture, the guests shirt will be sprayed with salt water to ensure the fish does not
lose it’s protective slime coating.
• When using a lip gaff to remove a fish from the water, be particularly careful to insert the lip gaff in a way
in which it does not damage the fish’s tongue or jaw. It should be inserted under the tongue and out the
opening under the jaw, ensuring the fish is not damaged
• Each guest is allowed to choose 2 dogtooth tuna per week to remove from the water and photograph.
Once they have removed their 2 dogtooth tuna from the water, any other fish can be photographed in the
water before release, with the angler kneeling near the fish whilst still in the water.
• Dogtooth tuna being released in the water should be released, using a release weight, if there is any sign
of a bloated swim bladder.
• When a dogtooth tuna is taken from the water, it is not to be out of the water for longer than 20 seconds
for a photograph. This is as determined by the skipper of the vessel. All necessary arrangements for
pictures must be made before the fish is removed from the water. There are no exceptions for this, and
journalists/presenters must also adhere to these rules. Cameras must be made ready if required, but
most skippers will have a camera on which to take photographs and can assist with this
• If fishing in any location where a fish is taken by a shark, the skipper of the vessel is required to
immediately move from that location, by at least 500 metres, and cease all fishing in that spot. The
skipper is not to return to the location of the shark attack for at least 2 hours.
• ALL fish that come to the surface with an inflated swim bladder will be popped by inserting a special
deflating device into the abdomen, just behind the pectoral fin. This shall be as demonstrated by an
experienced skipper or guide.
• All fish that come to the surface with an inflated swim bladder will be released on a release weight. The
crew will ensure that the release weight is ready at all times to be deployed when fishing. It is the vessel
skipper’s responsibility to ensure this device is onboard and used at all times.
• No dead fish are to EVER be left floating on the surface. If a fish has died, it will be brought back to the
mothership, and used appropriately.
• ALL GT’s and dogtooth tuna are to be tagged in the appropriate location before release. The skipper of
the vessel tagging the fish is responsible for returning tag cards.
• Any angler bringing tackle of their own which is not in line with the tackle recommendations for that
particular location will be instructed to use the gear supplied onboard the vessel or will not be allowed
to fish. This applies particularly to dogtooth tuna fishing and GT fishing in certain locations. Light
tackle results in lost fish, fish being sharked, and exhausted fish, all of which are unacceptable to our
environmentally sustainable ethics
Particular attention must be paid to these guidelines by ALL guides, skippers, fishing crew and guests.
Compliance with these guidelines is mandatory for attending any trip, and this code of conduct will be strictly
enforced with no exceptions.
• All fish are to be handled in a way which does not damage them.
• No fish is ever to be removed from the water tail first, or held up by it’s tail, as this is likely to break the
fish’s back. All fish should be held up with a hand on the tail, and another hand supporting under the belly
or gill plates of the fish. Hands are NEVER to be placed inside the fish’s gills for photographs.
• Barbless single hooks are to be used at ALL times. Under no circumstances is anyone permitted to use
trebles of any kind for any fishing conducted with Nomad Sportfishing in any location.
• Wet gloves or wet shirts are to be worn by any guest holding a fish, and wet gloves are the only
acceptable way in which a guide or guest should ever hold a fish.
• Fish should never come in contact with a dry shirt. If a fish is likely to come into contact with a dry shirt
while being held for a picture, the guests shirt will be sprayed with salt water to ensure the fish does not
lose it’s protective slime coating.
• When using a lip gaff to remove a fish from the water, be particularly careful to insert the lip gaff in a way
in which it does not damage the fish’s tongue or jaw. It should be inserted under the tongue and out the
opening under the jaw, ensuring the fish is not damaged
• Each guest is allowed to choose 2 dogtooth tuna per week to remove from the water and photograph.
Once they have removed their 2 dogtooth tuna from the water, any other fish can be photographed in the
water before release, with the angler kneeling near the fish whilst still in the water.
• Dogtooth tuna being released in the water should be released, using a release weight, if there is any sign
of a bloated swim bladder.
• When a dogtooth tuna is taken from the water, it is not to be out of the water for longer than 20 seconds
for a photograph. This is as determined by the skipper of the vessel. All necessary arrangements for
pictures must be made before the fish is removed from the water. There are no exceptions for this, and
journalists/presenters must also adhere to these rules. Cameras must be made ready if required, but
most skippers will have a camera on which to take photographs and can assist with this
• If fishing in any location where a fish is taken by a shark, the skipper of the vessel is required to
immediately move from that location, by at least 500 metres, and cease all fishing in that spot. The
skipper is not to return to the location of the shark attack for at least 2 hours.
• ALL fish that come to the surface with an inflated swim bladder will be popped by inserting a special
deflating device into the abdomen, just behind the pectoral fin. This shall be as demonstrated by an
experienced skipper or guide.
• All fish that come to the surface with an inflated swim bladder will be released on a release weight. The
crew will ensure that the release weight is ready at all times to be deployed when fishing. It is the vessel
skipper’s responsibility to ensure this device is onboard and used at all times.
• No dead fish are to EVER be left floating on the surface. If a fish has died, it will be brought back to the
mothership, and used appropriately.
• ALL GT’s and dogtooth tuna are to be tagged in the appropriate location before release. The skipper of
the vessel tagging the fish is responsible for returning tag cards.
• Any angler bringing tackle of their own which is not in line with the tackle recommendations for that
particular location will be instructed to use the gear supplied onboard the vessel or will not be allowed
to fish. This applies particularly to dogtooth tuna fishing and GT fishing in certain locations. Light
tackle results in lost fish, fish being sharked, and exhausted fish, all of which are unacceptable to our
environmentally sustainable ethics